14. West wing.

I love badass girls.

Everytime I walked passed the gym on my way from the grocery store, I stare longingly at the girls with toned bodies working out. I envy them and seriously wish I could someday have a body like that.

But that was it, hopes. I couldn't for the life in me run for a good 20 minutes without feeling like I'd pass out.

So I resort to fulfilling my dream of becoming a strong female by reading lots of books about sassy kickass heroins. It's fulfilling in some ways. All the novels I read are about sassy heroins and villainess and if I'd write a book it'll definitely be about strong and powerful girls not some soppy damsel in distress shits. Don't get me wrong, they are not bad, just not for me.

If only I could exchange my curse with strength, I'd be the happiest girl on earth. It doesn't have to be much, just a little bit more than my current strength is okay. Even if its just to be able to lift myself up in a press up. At least that way I could haul myself up and across a fence in case I ever needed to escape through a wall. It's a start.

*

After touring the whole west wing (excluding the locked and restricted areas which comprises of 60 percent of the building) and receiving alot of death stares from the killing machines they breed as fighters, clearly not welcomed, she arrived at another open space hidden by an artificial plant. The room was empty save a mat in the middle and a woman practicing Kung Fu.

Que subconsciously raised her left arm, comparing it to the Ruby Rose in the middle of the empty room throwing punches in the air. It was thin and flabby in comparison that she felt ashamed.

The lady looked so powerful and fierce in her black tied robe with her short pixie cut and tattooed arms.

Hya! Hya! Kacha!

Her powerful thrust cut through air and she couldn't help but pity those that have been on the receiving end.

The more she study the woman practicing those moves, whether it was karate or kung Fu she couldn't tell, it all looks the same to her, all she knew was that wanted to learn.

She had no idea how much time had passed as she stood there in awe. The world would be a little better for her if she had more strength. She could've gotten away from that pervert at the club had she had a little bit more strength.

She could even be able to take out that perverted dragon shifter.

Thinking up to here, her feet took her forward with a mind of its own until she was at the edge of the mat.

Kacha! Hya! Ha!

The punches sounded closer drawing her back to senses, she hastily drew back but wasn't fast enough as the woman's leg collided with her shoulders sending her sprawling on the floor with a painful cry.

"Argh, mother, I'm gonna die!" She moaned rolling on the floor clutching her throbbing shoulders which she was certain had dislocate from popping sound it made. Who knew she'd be the victim on the receiving end!

Her life. What was she thinking?

The woman whose eyes were binded stopped at the sound of a dying person taking off her blind. A girl in white was laying down on the floor, seriously?

Did she not see the yellow line at the boundary? Is something wrong with her head? Which sort of a person would walk into a fighting scene? It wasn't even a heavy kick, why did she have to act as if she was dying. What even brought her here in the first place.

She extended a hand to her clearing her throat.

"Here, next time don't walk around with your head up in the sky."

"Why do you have to put in soo much strength, do you intend to kill me? A little bit of I'm sorry wouldn't kill anyone."

"You weren't invited here anyways, and didn't you see the limit?" Bending by the waist, she grabbed the girl who cried as if her life was being taken by the angel of death. "Relax, it's not that bad."

"Wait..I think I dislocated my bon....Ayah!" With a snap, she twist the dislocated shoulder bone back in place. "Mother, I'm going to join you soon." Que fell back to the floor breathing hard.

"There. What brought you here?"

"Death. My death brought me here."

"I hate drama queens..." The girl muttered under her breath.

"Heard that."

"Good for you. You are not allowed in here, you know that?"

"Yeah, I was here to see the shrink with the boss." At the mention of that, the woman visibly stilled before turning around.

"You?" Slowly turning around she stalked towards her, her features shifting completely.

"Umm, what about me?" Que felt uneasy at the now quiet woman.

"You? How pathetic...at this rate you'll loose your life in the blink of an eye." she scoffed.

"What are you talking about?"

"You have no idea what awaits you, do you?" She snared, apprehending her like a new specimen. Her eyes held disgust, redemption and a little bit..Fear?

"Ummm," Que was at lost. Why did her eyes held such emotions? They've never even met before. Those were quite strong emotions coming from a stranger.

"Nevermind."

"Wait," she called after her when the lady turned and walked towards the hidden entrance.

"Could you please teach me some moves."

"Why should I?"

"Please, just self defense. I won't ask for more." The woman ignored her and kept walking forward.

"I almost got raped yesterday because I couldn't defend myself. I want to change that, please help me.

Que who was now standing is debating whether or not to chase after the woman. It would only take a kick to send her back to the ground. The woman paused briefly at the door and she took it as a sign and without further ado, Que sped after her.

"Thank you. I owe you my life. We can...," She was interrupted by a hand palming her face.

"Ask the boss first, he is in charge here," and she was back heading towards the mass of the other fighters. Que was about to continue chasing when her arm was grabbed.

"Mrs Menalik, what a troublesome person you are." Sarah panted trying to catch her breath.

"Hey, it's you. What are you doing here?"

"You have no idea how long I've been combing through the whole building looking for your ass. Just wait till boss get his hands on you."

"What, ah." She glanced at her wristwatch.

"Shit," Cursing under her breath, she didn't wait any longer and bolt the elevator ignoring the other girl's cries.The 4pm meeting starts in 3 minutes! How time flies, she've just only been walking around the place and hours had already passed.

*

"I'm so..... so.... sorry, Sir," Que said opening the door before he even get the chance to start firing his questions at her or deducing her points. "Our session took over the whole afternoon." What you don't know don't kill you right? She dropped her bag on the office couch and took out her jotter.

"Um, it's time for the meeting Sir," She added when he kept quiet with his head down. She half expected him to glared daggers at her and scored her negative. She didn't expect him to believe her one bit.

"Cancel it,"

"Hmm?"

He raised his head up and from the dark office she couldn't see his expression, a dark aviators covered his eyes. Why was he wearing aviators inside the already dark office?

"I do not like repeating myself, Mrs Menalik," his tone was sharp which reminded her of his odd behavior last night and through out this morning. She reminded herself not to tick him off.

Umm....but she truly didn't catch what he said, so she stood in front of the locked doors looking at him waiting for his command.

Quirking a brow he tilted his head, had he not known better he'd think she was deaf, but apparently she is just stupid.

Sighing heavily in his heart he massaged his temple.

"Come here." Obediently, she moved until she was at the edge of his desk. Opening the drawers of his desk, he took out a silver comb.

"Comb my hair,"

"Pardon? Oh," she caught herself at his sharp intake of air.

Weren't they supposed to go for a meeting? She took the silver comb from his hand and walk around the desk to his back. She gingerly gathered the long hair in her arms. It was silky smooth and soft and emitted of a soothing scent and she fought herself from sniffing him. Starting from the tips, she worked her way all the way to the roots of the hair tenderly massaging it. His stiff shoulders relaxed more and more the longer she comb his hair.

Although his hair was unique and she wouldn't mind doing this daily, her eyes kept straying to the clock on his desk as it ticks away. He had a meeting to attend, have he forgotten that? If he haven't then, shouldn't he inform them? She didn't know whether to remind him or not. He did not plan on blaming her later on did he? Well he could, he is the boss after all. She unconsciously tugged at his hair harder than necessary and he groaned.

"Ah, I'm sorry, I didn't mean..." He shook his hair out of her hand and got up.

"We are leaving."

"To the meeting? An hour have passed already, it should end in another 10 minutes...woah."

She was dragged along.

"Silence. We are going home."

Ah.

Quickly grabbing her bag she followed him outside sneaking a peek at him when she thought he wasn't looking. Though his aviators has covered most of his forehead, the very prominent vein has popped out on the bridge of his nose was still visible. Was that why he was wearing sunglasses even indoors? Was that the reason for his gloomy mood?

Is he hurting? Alot of questions passed through her brain and she felt uncomfortable for some reasons she couldn't tell, he must have his own share of problems as well. But why make problem for her if he has one himself? Why don't they just go there separate ways each dealing with their problems. They could work together for a greater good. She shook her head at the thought. It would be good enough if he spare her unnecessary trouble, working with him is impossible.

With that thought she walked up to her room. Her shoulders still ached from the kick. Damn the woman was strong, stronger than an average man.

After cleaning up and eating, she went down to kitchen to get some ice for her shoulders, the house was quiet with no one in sight. Not even the maids. Grabbing the some ice from the fridge, she turned around when she saw a bag of mint leaves and recalled when Jiji used to make a concoction for her when she was small whenever she had headache.

An idea occurred to her and she smiled, 5 minutes later she emerged from the kitchen holding tea set and walked towards the master bedroom on the last floor humming a song. She knocked on the door and waited, after his grunt came she pushed open the door and walked in with a smile.

*

"I made this for you. A warm cup of tea before bed helps relieve stress and...uhem... headaches and body aches."

Isn't she a genius!? This is called killing two birds at a time. Not only would she get to her training approved, she might even get additional positive points. She smiled at the thought standing idly by the bed, but her smile slipped when she caught his piercing red eyes observing her. He was holding a red orb in his hand turning it around reclining in the middle of the bed with his head probed on the head board.

His eyes were red...not just the white area, even the black part of his pupils was reddish purple coupled with the vein on his forehead, he looked like a monster.

Not exergerating.

"Oh my...god," She gasped, setting the tea set on the bedside table with shaky hands.

"What brought you here?" The orb rolled from the bed to the floor. It was the white crystals that turned red when she was with that woman.

"You...your eyes are red. Shouldn't see a.."

"Is that what brought you here?" She pursed her lips.

"I... I'd like to join the karate lesson on the west wing."

"No." He scoffed turning away.

"You didn't even hear me to the end!"

"What's the point? The answer is still the same."

"But I need to be able to defend myself."

"Why?" Why? Why? Did he said why?

"Because with all the dangers lurking around one can never be safe!"

"Go back to your room."

"But..."

"Be quiet. Back to your room I said, Que."

Arggh...

"Whatever, I can join another school on my own."

She stumped her feet in frustration and left. What a waste of effort. She wished she could've threw that pipping hot tea on his face. That way not only his eyes, even his face would be red.

She returned to her room, locked up the door and buried herself under the blankets with her cat hopefully she would sleep tonight as well. She clutched the short pocket knife under her pillow in her hand.

Better safe than sorry.

Tomorrow in her free time she'd check out other karate classes around. With that in mind, she soon drifted into sleep. Something during the night, she started dreaming about coffees and cream which was a bad sign and she automatically woke up. A slow and feathery touch ran across her neck, the blankets was nowhere to be found and cool breeze send goosebumps over her skin. Clutching the knife tightly she thrust it in the direction of the hand with all her might, which was pathetic as the person caught her arm swiftly before it was even close to touching him.

She swing her legs over and collided with a hard substance, both of them groaned, taking that as her chance, she pushed him to the bed and straddled his midrift. He was clearly stronger than her and punching him would only hurt her. She had an inkling the person was hilding back for whatever reason.

Stupid perverted dragon shifter. She grabbed at the bedside table for anything and hit the switch button of the light turning it on. They both froze at the glaring light.

"You!" She screeched backing away but ended only tangling herself more. Her feet were buried under the blanket and she fell on his chest.

"Stop moving." He grabbed at her butt stopping her movement.

"Get your hands off me. What are you doing in my room?"

"This is my house, I believe I can go wherever I want,"

Que didn't know whether to be alarmed or relief seeing Karl Zeus on her bed.

What was he trying to do?